Baseball: Tigers only one game below .500

It's April 28, and the Tigers are only one game below .500 at nine up and 10 down. Now, if the weather the last week had been better, the record might be worse (or it might be better). But this team is definitely on the upswing. The still-young staff needs another quality starter. Bonderman (3-2), Johnson (2-1), and Maroth (1-1) have to keep pitching well (by Motown standards at least). But if they keep the team in it, this is a line-up that is going to score some runs. The offensive numbers are really striking. Dmitri Young is on track to hit over 30 HR (I remember the days when 30 was a lot). With 69 at-bats, Carlos Guillen is hitting .406. Note: Pudge is currently fifth in hitting and sixth in slugging.

Not that the Tigers are going to catch the red-hot White Sox, who dominate the AL Central at 16 up and only six down. I have no idea how the Chisox are doing that; I'll have to take a look soon. In terms of Cleveland, I think Tribe fans are going to have to get used to looking up at the Tigers. And I say that as a secondary Tribe fan. The Indians' rotation is a joke. Jake Westbrook is 0-5. Why? Because he's only started five games. When he starts number six, he'll be 0-6 (by the end of the thing, anyway). The adjectival form: "Westbrookian." I know this guy was an All-Star last year. But what I can't figure out is, WHY?

The O's are the big surprise in the East, at 14 up and seven down. But look at that Away record--nine wins on the road compared to just two losses. That won't last (duh). Maybe the Yanks and Bosox struggles are a bigger surprise to some. In the West, well, things are bunched up.

National League thoughts--although I am an AL guy. St. Louis is just going to run away and hide in the NL Central. The West should be interesting, especially when (if) Bonds gets back for SF. The East should be even more interesting. Too close to call at this point. But I refuse to become a Nationals fan. And I refuse, even more steadfastly, to refer to them as "the Nats."